Wrapping and sealing machine



Oct. 27, 1953 G. R. BARTLE 2,656,557

WRAPPING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1947 3Shee ts-Sheet 1 mmvrox. faves: f. 54274 E.

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Oct. 27, 1953 s. R. BARTLE 2,656,657

WRAPPING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet :2

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WRAPPING AND SEALING MACHINE Fiied Dec. 18, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s S 2 I N V EN TOR.

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Patented Oct. 27, 1953 WRAPPING AND SEALING MACHINE George R. Battle, Metuchen, N. J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 18, 1947, Serial No. 792,360

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for wrapping and sealing articles. It is particularly adapted to sealing generally cylindrical articles in an airtight and moisture-ex cluding wrapper, and will be described, for illustration, as applied to such articles and wrappers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for effectively and economically wrapping articles with flexible foil such as cellophane, rubber hydrochloride and the like. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide improved means for eifectively sealing the wrapped object in an airtight and moistureproof wrapper. It is particularly an object to provide effective means for sealing articles in a Wrapper of material such as rubber hydrochloride, which when hot and plastic, is tender and tears easily and which accordingly must be carefully handled in making a neat, compact and moistureproof wrapper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the annexed description, and from the drawings, in which;

Figs. 1 to 4 are perspective views of one end of a package, and illustrate successive steps in my improved method of wrapping and sealing;

Fig. 5 is a plan of one form of machine embodying my invention for carrying out the process illustrated in Figs. 1-4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a right end elevation;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation corre sponding to Fig. 6 showing a later step in the operation of the machine; and

Fig. 9 is an exaggerated fragmentary section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6 showing the covering of one of the heated members.

The object If) to be wrapped may be, for example, a roll of plaster of Paris bandage which it is desired to enclose in a transparent wrapper and which must be enclosed in a moisture-proof wrapper. In practicing my invention I encase the roll of bandage in a flexible tubular film of heatscalable and preferably thermoplastic material l2 which extends beyond the ends of the bandage, for example a distance equal to the diameter of the roll. The tube may be of rubber hydrochloride and may be formed in any suitable manner as by forming a seamless tube in which the bandage is placed or by rolling a flat sheet of thermoplastic film around the article, overlapping the edges and sealing the overlapped edges in any suitable manner. The projecting portions of the tube are first gathered and folded to form a small neck I4 near each end of the roll and substantially centered on the axis of the roll. This forms a series of slack folds or pleats 15 extending radially from the neck to the circumference of the roll. Then the folds of the neck are heated to the softening temperature of the particular thermoplastic material employed and the folds are pressed together into a unitary airtight and moisture-proof mass which forms a closure for the tube. Preferably, though not necessarily, th necks are twisted tightly against the ends of the roll by holding the necks against rotation while heating and pressing them and rotating the bandage. This draws the tube down. tightly across the ends of the roll, straightening and compacting the radial folds l5 and forming a disk 16 of flat folds having the neck [4 at its center.

One method of heating and pressing the neck into a closed mass is to press the ends of the neck. while heating, to form a flat end I 8, but this particular detail is not essential to my method. If the neck is sufficiently plastic while being twisted, it will be compressed as shown at H) in Fig. 3. Th neck will retain this form when cooled. Thereafter, any portion of the tube extending beyond the sealed mass I9 may be clipped oil? or folded over as desired although this is not essential.

The invention includes an improved apparatus for carrying out the method described above. This apparatus includes a pair of rollers 20 mounted for rotation on suitable bearings and adapted to support for rotation the roll of bandage 10 with the tube extending beyond its ends. Adjacent the position occupied by each end of the roll of bandage proper is a stationary gathering member 22. The gathering member includes a pair of converging or gathering surfaces 24 each extending (as shown best in Fig. 8) from a point 26 which is at or near the horizontal plane tan gent to the top of the roll or th bottom of the roll, as the case may be, to a point 28 adjacent the axis of the roll. The arrangement is such that as a roll with the tubular film extending beyond each of its ends is placed on the rotary supports 26 by moving the roll horizontally from a position 29 in Fig. 6 the surfaces 24 gather and fold the wrapper between them as indicated by th irregular outline 30. A movable gathering member cooper ates with each stationary gathering member. Below the rollers 26 is a rotatable shaft 32 mounted in any suitable support to which shaft are keyed two movable gathering members 34, one gathering member being disposed in a plane adjacent the plane of each gathering member 22. Each gathering member 34 includes a pair of convergent gathering surfaces 36 similar to the gathering surfaces 24. Whenever the shaft 32 is rotated clockwise the gathering member 34 moves from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 8 and each pair of converging surfaces 24 cooperates with each pair of converging surfaces 36 to gather and fold the tube 12 into the small neck I4 located substantially at the center of the roll. Preferably the curved ends of the surfaces 24 and 38, where they converge, enclose a substantially circular or approximately elliptical perimeter which can be selected or adjusted to compact the neck I4 to any desiredextent. If the perimeter is quitesmall with reference to the original diameter of the tube, the'tube will be tightly folded and the folding members 22 and 34 will hold it firmly against rotation. If the roll is rotated on the supports 20 the folds of the neck will be twisted and the disk l6 will be flattened neatly against the ends of the roll.

In the case of cylindrical objects which do .not require sealing against air or moisture, the operation so far described may complete the packaging or wrapping. However in cases in which it is necessary to have the wrapping sealed against moisture, Iprovide means for heatingand pressing the necks into closed ends for the .tube. The heating may be accomplished by an electric heating cartridge 39 secured in thermal conductive relation to each folding member 22 and 34. The folding members can be brought to any desired position and can be pressed against the neck with any force desired and when heated, the folding members constitute means for folding the neck. holding it against rotation, heating it and pressing the .folds into a unified impervious mass.

.1 can also use an additional or alternative means for heating and pressing the folded neck, such as two pairs of pressure plates 4B, one pair at each end of the roll. Preferably the pressure plates are mounted on pivoted arms 42 and 43 by resilient connections such as compression springs 44 and stop screws 43. The arms 42 and 43 are mounted on shafts 4.8 and 49, respectively, which may turn in suitable bearings .in any suitable support so that the arms 42 may .be swung toward and away from the arms 43. When the arms are swung toward each other and plates 40 can press the necks between them withany desired pressure determined by the springs 44 and the position of the arms. The plates may be heated to any desired temperature by any suitable means suchas a resistance cartridge '4! placed in or .upon the members 46.

In using the apparatus so far described to carry out the method described above, a roll of bandage with its tubular wrapping is placed on the rolls 20, the ends of the wrappingextending between the surfaces 24 of each stationary member 22. The shaft 32 isthen rotated to bring the movable converging members 34 into the position shown in Fig. 8 to fold the tube into the neck I 4. Thereafter, the neck is pressed either between the heated folding members 22 and 34 or the hot plates 40, or both, at a sufiicient pressure and temperature and for asulficient length .of time to form the folded tube into a closed end for the package. Preferably the roll is rotated while the ends of the tube are being pressed and heated so as to fold the tube tightly about the end of the roll both to make a neat package and to twist the sealing neck into a small compass.

The apparatus includes means for operating automatically the above described elements, and for positively rotating the package and control- 4 ling the twisting of the necks so as to prevent twisting them off or tearing the wrapper when the film used is tender while hot.

A constantly driven sprocket 53 turns loosely on a shaft 52. A clutch 54, keyed to the shaft, is arranged to engage the sprocket unless a pin 56 is operated to hold the clutch against rotation, so that whenever the pin is released the sprocket drives the shaft. A pair of cams 5'8 and 60 are keyed to the shaft 52. The cams operate cam followers 62 on arms 64 and 66, keyed to shafts 48 and .49, respectively, for swinging the arms 42 and 43. When the cam followers are at the low points of the cams the arms 42 are raised in the position of Fig. 6 by the spring l9, and the arms 43 drop as shown in Fig. 6 due to their own Weight. When the cams are rotated about a quarter turn the heating plates are pressed together, or against the necks of the package, and are held in this position during about a half-turn of the cams, after which the arms are released to separate the heating plates.

On the cam shaft 52 is keyeda driving pulley 12 which by a flat belt 14, or other suitablemeans, drives a roller 16 on fixed bearings whenever the cam shaft rotates. The belt runs in a shallow groove 11 so that its face is flush with the face of the roll. An idler roll 18 is carriedbetween the movable folding members v34. When these folding members are brought into the position of Fig. 8, the package is held between the four rolls 20, 20, l5, 18, to be-rotated by theroll 16.

The folding members 34 are brought .into op-.

erative position by rotating theshaft 32 through an arm and rod 82, which latter may be pulled by any suitable device such as a foot treadle, not shown. When the shaft 32 .is rotated, acam .84 (Figs. 5, 6) raises one end of a rod .85 normally held down by a spring 81 and pivoted on a fixed pivot 88, and having at its other end a hook '93 which engages the clutch pin 56.

Normally the hook, engaging the pin, disengages the clutch, and the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. To operate the machine a package is'placed on the rolls .20 and the rod 82 is pulled to swing the folding members into the position of Fig. 8. This forms the neck and raises the rod 86 to trip the clutch, which swings the heating plates 40 into operative position and rotates the package. After the clutch has been tripped, the rod '82 may be released. Thereafter the cams continue'to rotate, holding the heating plates in position, driving the roll 16 to rotate'the package, .and carrying .the pin 55 around'with the clutch. The hook Bilhas meanwhile returned to its normal position in the path of the pin 56 and thus stops the clutch when the latter has made one revolution. Thereupon the heating plates are released and the package-rotating roller lfistops.

.If desired the heating plates may be eliminated and the apparatus may be operated manually with the folding members 22 and 34 as the only heating and pressing means, either with or Without the positive rotating means for the package, which latter may be rotated by hand.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a support for a generally cylindrical article, a set of gathering and folding means adjacent the position of each .end of the article when supported on said support, each set including a pair of stationary convergent surfaces and a pair of movable convergent surfaces 5. the stationary and movable convergent surfaces being on opposite sides of and facing the axis of the article, and means for simultaneously moving both sets of movable surfaces to form with the stationary surfaces a pair of perimeters substantially smaller than the perimeter of said article and approximately centered on the axis of the article when on the support.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting a generally cylindrical article for rotation about its axis, a set of gathering and folding means adjacent each end position of the article when supported on said supporting means, each set including a pair of stationary surfaces converging toward a point adjacent the axis of the article and a pair of movable convergent surfaces the stationary and movable convergent surfaces being on opposite sides of and facing the axis of the article, and means for simultaneously moving both sets of movable surfaces to form with the stationary surfaces a pair of perimeters substantially smaller than the perimeter of the article, and means for actuating the supporting means to rotate the article after the movable surfaces have been moved to define with the stationary surfaces said smaller perimeters.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting for rotation about its axis a generally cylindrical article encased in a flexible tube of relatively large radius extending beyond the ends of the article, means for simultaneously gathering and folding the projecting portions of the tube into puckered tubes of relatively small radius forming necks about the axis of the article adjacent each end of the article and for holding the necks against rotation, said last mentioned means including movable jaws adapted to contact the tube, means for rotating the article on its support, and means responsive to predetermined movement of said movable jaws for starting the rotating means.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting for rotation about its axis a generally cylindrical article encased in a flexible tube of relatively large radius extending beyond the ends of the article, means for simultaneously gathering and folding the projecting portions of the tube into puckered tubes of relatively small radius forming necks about the axis of the article adjacent each end of the article and for holding the neck against rotation, said last mentioned means including movable aws adapted to contact the tube, means for rotating the article on its support through a predetermined angular displacement, means responsive to predetermined movement of the movable jaws for starting the rotating means, and means responsive to completion of said predetermined angular displacement for stopping the rotating means.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting for rotation about its axis a generally cylindrical article encased in a flexible heat sealable tube extending beyond the ends of the article, a pair of divergent surfaces adjacent one end of the article and on one side of the tube, a second pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the other end of the article and on the same side of the tube, a third pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the first end of the article and on the opposite side of the tube, a fourth pair of divergent surfaces adjacent said other end of the article and on said other side of the tube, the divergent ends of the surfaces of the first and second pairs facing the divergent ends of the surfaces of the third and fourth pairs of surfaces respectively, and said third and fourth pairs of surfaces being movable toward said first and second pairs respectively, and being adapted to lie adjacent the surfaces of the first and second pairs respectively, and with them to form a pair of perimeters surrounding said tube, a pair of heating and pressing means adjacent the first pair of divergent surfaces, a pair of heating and pressing means adjacent the second pair of divergent surfaces, said heating and pressing means of each pair being movable toward the tube and into contact therewith and away from said tube and out of contact therewith, and means responsive to predetermined movement of the third and fourth pairs of divergent surfaces toward the first and second pairs for moving the heating and pressing means into contact with the necks.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting for rotation about its axis a generally cylindrical article encased in a flexible heat sealable tube: extending beyond the ends of the article, a pair of divergent surfaces adjacent one end of the article and on one side of the tube, a second pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the other end of the article and on the same side of the tube, a third pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the first end of the article and on the opposite side of the tube, a fourth pair of divergent surfaces adjacent said other end of the article and on said other side of the tube, the divergent ends of the surfaces of the first and second pairs facing the divergent ends of the surfaces of the third and fourth pairs of surfaces respectively, and said third and fourth pairs of surfaces being movable toward said first and second pairs respectively, and being adapted to lie adjacent the surfaces of the first and second pairs respectively, and with them to form a pair of perimeters surrounding said tube, a pair of heating and pressing means adjacent the first pair of divergent surfaces, a pair of heating and pressing means adj acent the second pair of divergent surfaces, said heating and pressing means of each pair being movable toward the tube and into contact therewith and away from said tube and out of contact therewith, and means responsive to predetermined movement of the third and fourth pairs of divergent surfaces toward the first and second pairs for moving the heating and pressing means into contact with the necks and for separating the heating and pressing means after a predetermined length of time.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for supporting for rotation about its axis a generally cylindrical article encased in a flexible heat sealable tube extending beyond the ends of the article, a pair of divergent surfaces adjacent one end of the article and on one side of the tube, a second pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the other end of the article and on the same side of the tube, a third pair of divergent surfaces adjacent the first end of the article and on the opposite side of the tube, a fourth. pair of divergent surfaces adjacent said other end of the article and on said other side of the tube, the divergent ends of the surfaces of the first and second pairs facing the divergent ends of the surfaces of the third and fourth pairs of surfaces respectively, and said third and fourth pairs of surfaces being movable toward said first and second pairs respectively, and being adapted to lie adjacent 7. the. surfaces of the'first and second pairsrespectively, andwith them to form a pair oi. perimeters surrounding said tube, a pair: of heating and pressing means adjacent the first pair of divergent surfaces, a pair of heating and pressing means adjacent the second pair of divergent surfaces, said. heating and pressing means of each pair being movabie toward the tube and intocontact therewith and away from said tube and out of contact therewith, means responsive to predetermined movement of the third and fourth pairs of divergent surfaces toward the first and second. pairs for moving the heating and. pressing means into contact with the necks and for separating the heating and pressing means after a predetermined length of time, and means responsive to predetermined movement of the third and fourth pairs of divergent surfaces. toward the first and. second pairs for rotating the article and tube through a given angular displacement.

GEORGE R. BAR'ILE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 533,516 Williams Feb. 5, 1895 Number Number Name Date-- Ritty- Sept. 17, 1.907 Ulmer Nov. 19, 1912-. Wi11iam. July 2,. 1918' Co0per Mar. 18,, 1924+ Winget Mar. 18-,- 1924.- Smith Aug. 31, 1926;. Snowden Feb. 26,1929 Spencer. May 7-,.1929 Haas June-2,,193,1- Ferguson Ju1y 28,,1931 Smith Sept. 22, 1931. Vogt May: 2,v 1939-. Snyder. Sept. 16,-,1941 Van Veen Mar. 31, 19,42, Mallory July 14, 19.42, McGinley Oct. 19,1943. Snyder Feb. 29, 1944 Belleb Aug. 7,1945;

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date, Great Britain 1 Dec, 1.01 1931." 

